MA Legal and Political Theory

The study of the ethical dimensions of public policy

This programme at a glance

Provides students
with the key analytical skills to study the ethical dimensions of politics and
public policy.

Duration

12 months (full-time) or 24 months (part-time)

Cost

Please see fees tab.

Application deadline

July 31 2015

Programme Director

Dr Emily McTernan

Programme introduction

Ronald Dworkin - an obituary

It is with great sadness that the Department received the news of the death of Ronald Dworkin. Read more »

Founded by Jeremy Bentham and counting Mahatma Gandhi among
its alumni, UCL pioneered the application of legal and political theory to
illuminate the ethical dilemmas of public life. It remains a leading
international centre for postgraduate teaching and research at the cutting edge
of work in the field. The MA in Legal and Political Theory draws on three areas of excellence at UCL, each supported by a group of world class scholars: jurisprudence (John Tasioulas, George Letsas, Philip Schoffield, Stephen Guest from Laws), philosophy (Jo Wolff, Véronique Munoz-Dardé, Mike Otsuka from Philosophy) and political theory and human rights ((Richard Bellamy, Cécile Laborde, Saladin Meckled-Garcia, Emily McTernan, Avia Pasternak and Albert Weale) from Political Science). The result is a unique mix of politics, law and philosophy, centred on the normative evaluation of public policy at both the domestic and international levels."

Legal and Political Theory Forum

UCL Legal and Political Theory Forum is an annual event, organised and run by students on the MA Legal and Political Theory course at UCL. It provides
an opportunity for distinguished academics, politicians and others working in
the public policy field to consider some of the philosophical issues underlying
current debates in public policy Go to site »

The School of Public Policy is not responsible for the content of external Internet sites.Read more »

The MA in Legal and Political Theory provides students
with the key analytical skills to study the ethical dimensions of politics and
public policy. The programme explores the moral quality of the decisions
citizens and professionals take, and the justice of the legal and political
structures within which they operate. Among the policy issues addressed are the
character and limits of a multicultural society, the obligations of rich to
poor countries, the morality of the war on terror, the rights and wrongs of
animal experimentation, the feasibility of global citizenship, and the
advisability of judicial review. The MA also features frequent research seminars, where the best current work on legal and political theory is presented by eminent guest speakers from around the world.

Past students on the programme have been awarded
prestigious scholarships such as AHRC and UCL graduate studentships.

The main strengths of the MA are

Specialist expertise in a range of
key political theory approaches, notably:

ethics and contemporary political
philosophy

legal theory and jurisprudence

egalitarianism and theories of
social justice

human rights

theories of democracy and
citizenship

liberalism, republicanism,
multiculturalism

utilitarianism

history of modern political ideas

European political thought

'Wednesday Seminars'. The Autumn
Term seminars in political theory, and the Spring Term Colloquium in Legal
Philosophy offer students an unrivalled opportunity to meet and engage
with some of the leading figures in the field and to discuss their latest
. Seminars bridge the gap between academic research and broader
understanding of key issues concerning society and politics; attendance is
compulsory for MA students and papers are discussed in advance of seminars
through Peer-Assisted Learning Sessions.

Core course on 'Applied Methods in
Political Theory', providing students with key research skills, exposure
to, and practice of, a range of political theory methods, development of
written and oral skills. It provides a good training for the 10,000-word
dissertation which make 30% of the degree.

Interdisciplinary research culture
of the School of Public Policy, the centre of expertise in political
science at UCL, with particular strengths in public policy, constitutional
issues, European politics and international relations.

Strong input from such established
UCL departments and institutions as Law, Philosophy, the Bentham Project,
Economics, History, and European Studies.

Our aim is to provide a challenging intellectual
atmosphere for postgraduate study, along with the best possible support for
individual students. The School of Public Policy is a research-oriented
institution where the particular needs and interests of postgraduate students
are well catered for. SPP provides an ideal environment to pursue doctoral
research, and the MA is an excellent foundation for further research in
political theory.

General aims of the degree

to raise critical awareness of
major issues in legal and political theory;

to inculcate the ability to
discuss, in an informed, coherent and critical way, issues of political
thought;

to develop the confidence to think
creatively;

to improve the transferable skills
of coherent and rational argument and the written and oral expression of
ideas.

Specific objectives: by the end of the programme students should

be able to expound and criticise
important ideas of selected modern political theorists;

be able to articulate and justify
a considered and coherent position on issues concerning the relationship
between politics, law and society;

demonstrate systematic reading,
clarity of expression, ability to develop an argument in support of a
position, anticipate and answer objections to that position, through the
production of a dissertation of not more than 10,000 words which will
demonstrate a capacity for beginning doctoral research

The programme is made up of the following elements, to total 180 credits:

These seminars are an integral component of the course and all students are required to attend. The seminars - which become the Colloquia in the second term - take place on alternate Wednesdays. Seminars bridge the gap between academic research and broader understanding of key issues concerning society and politics. Click here for seminar programme

Peer Assisted Learning (P.A.L.) sessions. All members of the MA programme are required to attend these student-only discussions held before the Seminars. They give students the opportunity to discuss that week's paper amongst themselves under the supervision of a member of teaching staff. The aim of the sessions is to prepare students to participate fully in the SPP seminars themselves.

Dissertation - 10,000 words (60)

2. Choose two or three modules worth a total of 45 credits from the following (the other modules remain options to choose in step 3):

Students may take graduate modules from cognate subjects available elsewhere in UCL but must seek approval from the Programme Director in the first instance.

2015/2016

UK/EU students (Full-time)

Overseas students (Full-time)

UK/EU students (Part-time)

Overseas students (Part-time)

MSc in Public Policy

£10,765

£17,250

£5,560

£8,755

MSc in European Public Policy

£9,835

£17,250

£4,890

£8,755

MSc in International Public Policy

£10,765

£17,250

£5,560

£8,755

MSc in Democracy and Comparative Politics

£9,835

£17,250

£4,890

£8,755

MA in Human Rights

£10,765

£17,250

£5,560

£8,755

MA in Legal and Political Theory

£9,835

£17,250

£4,890

£8,755

MSc Global Ethics and Governance

£9,835

£17,250

£4,890

£8,755

MSc in Security Studies

£10,765

£17,250

£5,560

£8,755

MPA in Public Administration and Management

£15,140

£21,530

£7,470

£10,765

Please note: Part-time fees are per year.

For the Executive MPA in Global Public Policy and Management fees, please visit the EMPA page.

Entry to all of our programmes is competitive so please
apply early to increase your chances of success. This is particularly the case
on our larger Masters programmes in Public Policy, International Public Policy,
Security Studies and Human Rights and candidates applying for these programmes
are strongly advised to submit applications as early as possible to avoid
disappointment.

Applications for Masters 2015/16

We will be accepting new applications for entry in 2015/16 from October 2014.